MVICW is committed to providing a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for all, especially in regards to race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity and/or religion. This code of conduct outlines our expectations for attendees’ behavior at MVICW as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior. We expect all participants (speakers, attendees, staff, and other guests) to abide by this code of conduct at all event venues, within their housing, and at event-related social functions. Please immediately inform MVICW director, Alexander Weinstein (director@mvicw.com), or the Assistant Director, Alexandra Murphy (registration@mvicw.com), by e-mail if you experience a distressful situation.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR
First and foremost, treat everyone with compassion and respect. Everyone deserves respectful treatment, and every participant has the right to enjoy their experience at MVICW without fear of harassment or discrimination. Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative. Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to: Intimidating, threatening, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, demeaning or disorderly conduct, or possession, use, or distribution of any illegal substances. MVICW does not tolerate the use or abuse of illegal substances at any of the venues or lodging where MVICW events are held.

Harassing conduct can take many forms and may include, but is not limited to, the following: Slurs or offensive jokes, statements, gestures, photographs, drawings, cartoons or pictures; assault; impeding or blocking another’s movement or otherwise physically interfering with activities; conducting unwanted audio or visual recordings; violating someone’s “personal space”; engaging in leering, stalking, staring, intimidating or threatening behavior; or making offensive communications such as in the form of emails, telephone calls, voicemails, text messages or social media. Sexually harassing conduct, in particular, may include all of these prohibited actions, as well as other unwelcome conduct, such as requests for sexual favors, conversation containing sexual comments, physical contact, lewd or offensive behavior or language, and other unwelcome sexual advances. Sexually harassing conduct can be by a person of either the same or opposite sex. MVICW reserves the right in its sole discretion to determine what constitutes unacceptable behavior.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated whether by other attendees, media, speakers, or venue staff. Anyone asked to stop engaging in unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, MVICW may take any action we deem appropriate, up to and including immediate expulsion without warning from the event and without refund of any registration or other fees, and the revocation of your ability to return to MVICW related events in the future. MVICW reserves the right to dismiss a participant in violation of MVICW’s Code of Conduct without any refund.
 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU WITNESS OR ARE SUBJECT TO UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
Speak up! Harassment will not be tolerated at MVICW. If you are subject to unacceptable behavior, or notice that someone else is being subject to unacceptable behavior, or have any other concerns, please immediately notify MVICW staff as soon as possible, in person, by phone or email. Please also notify appropriate law enforcement if and when necessary. MVICW will be available to help participants contact local law enforcement, to provide escorts, or to otherwise assist those experiencing unacceptable behavior to feel safe for the duration of the event.



MVICW COVID POLICY & RELEASE WAIVER
Relating to the global COVID-19 pandemic, attendees acknowledge the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assumes the risk of exposure or infection by attending an MVICW event or staying at MVICW and/or local lodging, and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, disability, and/or death to attendee. Attendee understands that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 at the MVICW event or at MVICW and/or local lodging may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of others who may attend the event or their families, colleagues, or others with whom they may have contact. Accordingly, attendee understands and agrees that this release includes any claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, its employees, agents, and representatives, whether a COVID-19 infection occurs before, during, or after participation in the MVICW event.

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In addition to all other rules and regulations relating to the attendee’s attendance at the MVICW event and at MVICW and/or local lodging, attendee agrees to comply with all COVID-related procedures that may be implemented by The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, and the event venue, including, but not limited to, mask-wearing and social distancing requirements and restrictions on certain activities that carry higher COVID-related risk, in order to protect as much as possible the health and safety of all MVICW event attendees.

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MVICW EVENTS LIABILITY & RELEASE WAIVER
When these Terms use the term “Organizer,” we mean event creators using the Services to create events displayed on the Services for consumers using our Services (a) to consume information about or attend Events (“Consumers”), or (b) for any other reason. Organizers, Consumers and third parties using our Services are all referred to in these Terms collectively as “Users,” “you” or “your.” When these Terms use the term “MVICW,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” that refers to The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and each of its and their respective officers, directors, agents, partners, employees, and volunteers.

All MVICW event attendees are encouraged to capture their event experience and post to their own social media content, in a manner that upholds MVICW’s Code of Conduct and does not infringe on any rights of an attendee, sponsor, vendor, third party, or MVICW. Such infringement would include, but is not limited to, defamation or infringement of intellectual property rights. MVICW disclaims all liability for the capture of an individual’s image in any multimedia format by other attendees at the event.

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Photographs, images, and audio of members taken at MVICW events – in-person or virtual – may be captured, used, edited, and distributed for commercial use with the MVICW member’s consent to any particular liability waiver and release.

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Attendee assumes all risks and accepts sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that attendee may experience or incur in connection with attending any MVICW event or staying at MVICW and/or local lodging. Attendee hereby releases, covenants not to sue, discharges, and holds harmless The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, and its employees, agents, and representatives, of and from any such claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto.

In acceptance of participating in an MVICW event or staying at MVICW and/or local lodging, the attendee takes full action for themselves, executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors and assigns as follows: Part 1) Waive, release, and discharge from any and all liability for death, disability, personal injury, property damage, property theft or actions of any kind which hereafter accrue to the attendee during any travel to and from the event, the following entities or persons: any and all event attendees, MVICW staff, event volunteers, event sponsors, Board of Directors, sponsors and /or all persons associated with the event, and their directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties” and Part 2) indemnify and hold harmless all entities or persons of the Released Parties from any and all liabilities or claims made by other individuals or entities as a  result of an attendee’s actions.

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